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As a job seeker, you already know that it’s getting harder than ever to land an interview, let alone a great job. It seems like the candidate pool gets deeper, while the jobs get fewer and far between. How can you rise above the raging sea of candidates who are competing for the same jobs as you? Along with a killer resume, your best bet is to use branding to create a positive image of yourself that will grab the attention of hiring managers!

The most successful advertising companies and online marketers have been using branding ever since the first corporate logo was invented. Consider how brands used by big companies easily sway consumer behavior, and you can apply the same principles to your job search. The trick is knowing how to do this the right way.

Here are some easy ways to brand yourself as a top candidate and land your dream job sooner!

Clean Up Your Social Media Profiles

One of the biggest mistakes many job seekers make is using their social media profiles like Facebook, twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn purely for socializing and games. What you may not realize is that hiring managers frequently research job candidates via these public networks. So, if you have a personal Facebook page that includes embarrassing pictures from college parties, get in there and delete them. Then create branded social media pages that include your contact information, keywords about the type of work you are looking for, and a professional headshot picture of you dressed in a nice office suit. Do this consistently across all channels for a clean, branded image.

Create a Job Seeker Blog or Website

Another easy way to brand yourself as a job seeker is to put your resume and information online with a professional looking blog or website. Many job seekers are paying big bucks for a company to do this for them, but this is simply not necessary if you have basic technology skills. WordPress is a nice starter blog, with professional themes you can use to create a branded image. Include your photo headshot, your resume and accomplishments, and links to anything you have published online that relate to your job search. For security sake, leave your personal information off the blog or website, such as home address, social security number and birthdate. Use this blog to talk about your job search efforts and your career interests.

Use a Branded Email Address

Something that many job seekers don’t realize is that cutesy or racy email addresses don’t give a very favorable impression with hiring managers. Stay away from email addresses like sexyman@ or littlegirl@ for example, which only make you look immature to recruiters. Instead, select a branded email address, which speaks about you as a job candidate and your career aspirations. This may seem like a minor thing, but it actually can bolster you up when sending out resumes to the companies you want to work for. Take it from someone who is on the other side of the hiring desk – email addresses do matter!

To land your dream job, very often you’ll have to think outside the box and come up with creative ways to get in front of the right people. Use branding as a tool for doing just that and you will attract recruiters from the best industries.

For more support and resources for job seekers, please visit The Concorde Group website and stop by our job candidates’ page http://www.concordepersonnel.com/candidates

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The Concorde Group is a full service employment agency in White Plains, NY providing temporary staffing services, executive recruitment, temp-to-hire and permanent job placements. Serving employers & job candidates in the following areas: